# Ruby-crowned Kinglet **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [March 9, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779 "2025-03-09T01:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dave\_Douglass](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dave_douglass/32/5332_2.png) [@Dave\_Douglass](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dave_Douglass)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779/1 "2025-03-09T01:50:56Z")
![RUBYCROWN.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/e/8/e818e7588912e943f8eb7058abc5738788869d81.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description It’s always a challenge for me every time one of these comes in. They are quick, and nervous, and I always consider it a real “feather in my cap” to capture their namesake ruby-crown. They don’t show it to just anybody. Only enemies, and lovers, I read. ### Specific Feedback Cropping? Exposure? ### Technical Details Z9, 180-600 lens, Nikon 1.4 TC, monopod, 1/2500th, f 9.0, 1110mm, ISO 3200, cropped to 2982 x 2210. * * * ### Critique Template Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas. - Vision and Purpose: - Conceptual: - Emotional Impact and Mood: - Composition: - Balance and Visual Weight: - Depth and Dimension: - Color: - Lighting: - Processing: - Technical: ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779/2 "2025-03-09T05:35:37Z")
This is definitely the time of year to see it best, Dave, when they’re starting to argue over territory. There was probably another around somewhere. The light looks a bit harsh. If you are using LR you can try selecting the bird (or just use a brush) and raise the shadows and lower highlights a bit to even out the lighting on the bird a bit. Great catch. ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 6:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779/3 "2025-03-09T06:12:26Z")
What a sweet little bird. I have never seen one of this kind. He’s giving you quite a lookover. I agree with @Dennis_Plank about the harshness of the light. And, good suggestion to tame the light. There seems to be some sort of ghosting behind the bird and perhaps on the perch. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779/4 "2025-03-09T11:31:03Z")
Hi Dave, nice catch of a tough to get bird. They are always on the move. I also see the ghosting that Glenys mentions. It is prevalent behind and below the bird - seems like the back primary feathers were duplicated somehow. Also agree with lowering highlights especially on the bright patch on the bird below the primaries. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ruby-crowned-kinglet/45779/5 "2025-03-09T16:56:14Z")
The ghosting areas are low opacity cloning errors, from smoothing out the BG. Also there is a hard edge where the clone source ran into an edge, behind and above the tail. There is also a subject selection / masking error between the tail and the primaries. You should be able to soften the light a bit, maybe needing to resort to a linear profile in raw. I would lighten the dark area at the bottom. Low opacity cloning would probably be good there. This looks like a big crop – I like to do the cloning before cropping to have more source material, but too many branches could limit that strategy. Worth a redo!